Brits warned of travel disruption as Italy braces for 24-hour strikes

British travellers were warned of disruption as airport workers across Italy prepare to strike for 24 hours on Friday, September 26, over working conditions, pay and staffing. The action is being organized by the CUB Trasporti union and targets baggage handlers, crew and ground staff at a string of key hubs across the country. Security workers at Cagliari Elmas in Sardinia are also expected to walk out, and staff from Assohandlers—the company that serves easyJet and Ryanair—are set to strike at airports nationwide. In Milan, staff at Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa will walk out for four hours. The strikes are anticipated to cause chaos and could affect more than 100 flights and up to 20,000 travellers on Britain–Italy routes.

The airlines and airports have urged calm, with Ryanair saying it would continue to operate a full schedule to and from Italy and did not expect disruption. Other carriers, including WizzAir and Volotea, are also signaling walkouts on the same day, though responses from some carriers were not immediately available. A Ryanair spokesperson told AeroTime, "We continue to operate a full schedule to/from Italy, and do not expect any disruption to our operations in September." The Daily Mail has approached Ryanair, WizzAir, Volotea and easyJet for comment.

Italy relies on mandated minimum service levels intended to protect essential flights during strikes, but observers say disruption remains likely and could ripple across the network for days. Consumer rights expert Ivalyo Danailov cautioned that even a one-day disruption can cause knock-on delays in the days that follow. "There are around 100 daily flights between Italy and the UK, airlines are very efficient at delivering services between the two countries, meaning that even a one day disruption like the one we're expecting can cause lots of knock on delays in the days that follow," he said. "When airline staff strike, this is considered to be within control of the airline, as the industrial action could have been avoided. This means that when these strikes do go ahead, passengers affected by the strikes could be due compensation from the airline for any disruption to their travel plans." He added, however, that "Strikes by airport staff, however, are considered to be 'extraordinary circumstances' and usually outside of an airline's control. This means that most of the time airlines do not have to pay compensation for flights cancelled or delayed due to these strikes."

The action comes as France's air traffic control union SNCTA rescheduled planned strikes from September to October 2025, according to the Independent, adding to the broader backdrop of European disruption. Passengers should verify schedules with their airlines and be aware that compensation rules vary depending on the cause of disruption and whether minimum-service requirements apply. Travelers are advised to monitor updates from carriers and airports and to consider flexible options for rebooking or refunds if travel plans are affected.